In 1897 a Swiss Federal “turnfest” was held in Schaffhausen , Switzerland. It was a national gymnastics competition. In honor of the event IWC made the prize watches: a very special pocket watch, in silver and gold, that was ornately engraved on the back. It depicted a gymnast throwing what I believe was a 15 kilogram stone, in front of the city of Schaffhausen. A prize watch was awarded to Albert Gut of Zurich.
I had seen this watch once in a private collection in Schaffhausen. I asked if it were for sale, and the owner shook his head. “No”, he said, “this watch shows the same view of Schaffhausen that I can see from my house”.
I gave up hope of ever finding one –only a handful were made—when suddenly I received an e-mail from a woman in the United Statess. She wrote “my father was a cardiologist in New York City from the 1930s to the 1970s. In the 1930s, a patient came to see him but couldn’t pay. He left this watch as collateral, but never returned.” She asked me to identify the watch, and I explained that it was awarded as a prize in the 1897 Schaffausen Turnfest. One thing lead to another, and it turned out she was willing to sell the watch to me.
It has an “ ordinary” dial in an elaborate case, typical of prize watches from the 19th century:
[
](www.iwcforum.com/)
It has an “IWC Calibre” movement, which really is an early Calibre 52:
](Albert’s watch has now found a new home. And an appreciative owner.
Regards,
Michael
